Gnome hooked hammer

[tedcahill2]

I don't understand this weapon. It's a two handed double weapon that can also be used one handed? How?

The picture makes it look super small and unwieldy.

[DrMotives]

It is small & unwieldy. It's the bastard sword of double weapons. That's why it's exotic unless you're a gnome. But because it's small, it allows someone to use it one handed striking with only a single end. Or they can double up the grip for better strength & power attack bonus, or go two-weapon style. The hook-hammer with a tortoise blade make a gnome like a Swiss Army knife; small & silly looking, but extremely versatile.

[KillianHawkeye]

Double weapons normally aren't wielded in one hand. They're all two-handed weapons. However, any creature can wield a two-handed weapon made for a smaller sized creature in one hand. When doing so, you take a -2 penalty on attack rolls per difference in size category (as normal for an inappropriately sized weapon), and additionally you can no longer use it as a double weapon (a special rule for double weapons).

If you read the text descriptions, you'll see that all double weapons have the same clause about creatures who wield them in a single hand. It just so happens that the gnome hooked hammer, as an item that's probably always going to be made for Small characters, is the one double weapon most likely to be wielded in one hand (by a character who is Medium size or larger).

Bastard swords having nothing to do with this. The hooked hammer, like every other double weapon, is not designed to be used with only one hand.

[tedcahill2]

Double weapons normally aren't wielded in one hand. They're all two-handed weapons. However, any creature can wield a two-handed weapon made for a smaller sized creature in one hand. When doing so, you take a -2 penalty on attack rolls per difference in size category (as normal for an inappropriately sized weapon), and additionally you can no longer use it as a double weapon (a special rule for double weapons).

If you read the text descriptions, you'll see that all double weapons have the same clause about creatures who wield them in a single hand. It just so happens that the gnome hooked hammer, as an item that's probably always going to be made for Small characters, is the one double weapon most likely to be wielded in one hand (by a character who is Medium size or larger).

Bastard swords having nothing to do with this. The hooked hammer, like every other double weapon, is not designed to be used with only one hand.

So it's a double weapon, period. A gnome fighter couldn't use it one-handed right?

Cause when I read it that's what I was thinking for some reason.

[KillianHawkeye]

So it's a double weapon, period. A gnome fighter couldn't use it one-handed right?

Correct. You can wield it as a two-handed weapon, or wield both ends as if they were two separate weapons.